Rural Japanese Communities Gain Access To 3G Healthcare

TOKYO, JAPAN AND SAN DIEGO, CAIn local regions in Japan, emergency care and advanced healthcare are lacking. As a result, it is critical for people to be able to manage their own health. To help people in such rural areas, QUALCOMM, Inc. and Medical Platform Asia (MedPA) have signed a formal agreement to provide medical devices with integrated thirdgeneration (3G) wireless modules. QUALCOMM's Wireless Reach initiative is implementing the project, which will allow 300 remote local residents to send critical health information to doctors through a 3G wireless network.

"The collaboration between QUALCOMM, MedPA, and other project participants will increase access to quality healthcare," states Jun Yamada, Senior Vice President of QUALCOMM and President of QUALCOMM Japan. "We are committed to applying 3G wireless technology to improve public health in rural areas of Japan, where there is limited access."

MedPA will provide the 3G-enabled communication equipment in collaboration with Chealcomm, a Japan-based MVNO that specializes in advanced wireless and wellness services. The partnership will particularly target patients who are living in areas that are located far from a medical facility or that face other issues, such as a scarcity of physicians.